Determined, driven, dignified, and intense, Anil Kumble is one of the greatest cricketers India has produced. Tall and lanky, he had a long runup and the aggression of a fast bowler. His will to win was unsurpassed and the batsmen knew that there won’t be a drop in intensity whether it be the first or last ball of the day. So, let’s go through some of Kumble’s best moments during his playing career.
In February 1999, India played Pakistan in the Second Test in Delhi after having lost by 12 runs in a nail-biting encounter in Chennai after which the sporting crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium gave the victorious Pakistanis a standing ovation, something which will go down in history as one of the greatest shows of sportsmanship. On a flat wicket, India set Pakistan a target of 420 runs. All seemed to be going smoothly for the Pakistanis as their opening batsmen Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi raced to 101 runs in 24 overs. However, Anil Kumble had other plans. One by one, he ran through the Pakistani batting line up and before we knew it, there was a chance to create history. It was on the third ball of the 60th over that Kumble became the second bowler after Jim Laker to take 10 wickets in an innings. In the 4th Test in Antigua in May 2002, Anil Kumble came out to bowl with a fractured jaw after being struck by a bouncer by Mervyn Dillon while batting.
He bowled 14 overs and got Brian Lara out in what is one of the most inspirational acts of selfless courage displayed on the cricket field. Even the pain of a broken jaw did not stop Kumble from giving his best on that day. It is a moment that gives cricket fans goosebumps till today. Kumble always had leadership skills but was never India’s full-time captain till 2007 when he was handed over the reins of the Test Team after Rahul Dravid resigned from captaincy. His captaincy tenure is defined by the ill-tempered Tour of Australia wherein he showed assertiveness, dignity, and courage in the face of incessant Aussie aggression, both on and off the field. His one-sentence “only one team played in the spirit of the game”, after the controversial loss at Sydney was terse, self-assured and eerily similar to the words of Bill Woodfull, the Australian captain during the tempestuous Bodyline series, “there are two teams out there, and only one of them is playing cricket.” Kumble rallied the troops and India won a historic match in the Third Test at Perth, which was once the fortress of the Australians. During that Tour, Kumble never lost his cool, but never backed down either and led his team from the front in an unparalleled show of leadership.
Kumble was appointed as Head Coach of the Indian Cricket Team in 2016. The team set high standards of performance under him, but unfortunately, reports of a rift between him and captain Virat Kohli meant that his tenure would last only a year. Kumble is one of those champion cricketers who has contributed to the game even after his retirement. I sincerely hope that he once again becomes part of the Indian coaching staff as there is so much to learn from him. On the occasion of his 50th birthday, I humbly extend my wishes to this living legend.